by Sol Stein
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Product Description
Stein on Writing provides immediately useful advice for all writers of fiction and nonfiction, whether they are newcomers or old hands, students or instructors, amateurs or professionals. As the always clear and direct Stein explains here, "This is not a book of theory. It is a book of usable solutions—how to fix writing that is flawed, how to improve writing that is good, how to create interesting writing in the first place." With examples from bestsellers as well as from students' drafts, Stein offers detailed sections on characterization, dialogue, pacing, flashbacks, trimming away flabby wording, the so-called "triage" method of revision, using the techniques of fiction to enliven nonfiction, and more.
Amazon.com Review
"The best reading experiences," says Sol Stein, "defy interruption." With Stein's assistance, you can grab your reader on page 1 and not let go until "The End." Stein--author of nine novels (including the bestselling The Magician) and editor to James Baldwin, W.H. Auden, and Lionel Trilling--offers "usable solutions" for any writing problem you may encounter. He is authoritative and commanding--neither cheerleader nor naysayer. Instead, he rails against mediocrity and demands that you expunge it from your work. Perhaps the concept of scrutinizing every modifier, every metaphor, every character trait sounds like drudgery. But with Stein's lively guidance, it is a pleasure. Stein recommends that you brew conflict in your prose by giving your characters different "scripts." He challenges you, in an exercise concerning voice, to write the sentence you want the world to remember you by. He uses an excerpt from E.L. Doctorow to demonstrate poorly written monologue and a series of Taster's Choice commercials as an example of dialogue that works. Stein's bottom line is that good writing must be suspenseful. Your job, says Stein, "is to give readers stress, strain, and pressure. The fact is that readers who hate those things in life love them in fiction." --Jane Steinberg
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Highly Recommended for its Writing Tips, 2008-11-20
Stein's book is full of great tips about writing. There are no "rules," but writers need to be aware of landmines. I paid full price, and that thought that I got my money's worth out of Stein's book. It's a great reference to thumb through.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Great book for the person writing a novel or anyting., 2008-10-13
Hi I am Vince.
I purchased this book Stein on Writing it was recommended to me from someone in my writing workshop. http://vincea51.writing.com I am currently writing a Science Fiction novel called: THE ROCK OF NEREID. by Vincent J. Arcuri
and hope to sell it here on Amazon.com
The book is well outlined with a full informative content index right up front where it should be. Sol Stein is a great editor
3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
 This is truly awful, 2008-07-18
I've read several books about editing and style, and this is one that stands high above the rest as the most awful book I've read of any subject. The tone is so condescending that I was struggling to finish this - only the fact that I'd thrown my hard earned money on this rubbish kept me reading.
A lot of the advise is actually sound and the writer knows his stuff, no doubt about it. But he's so full of himself that he comes across as an overbearing ego-maniac. He only approves of literature novels (so if you're writing anything else be warned that you will be put down at every page of this book) and he thinks the novels he's penned are the examples of perfection. There are pages and pages of excerpts of his novels which are not in any way helpful. All other books of this type manage to bring the point across with way shorter examples and do it by presenting a wide variety of novels.
Far better book is Elizabeth Lyons Manuscript Makeover. You will get every single advise that's in this book plus tons of others which this book completely misses.
The tone of the writer prevented me to actually gain any real benefit of his (so called) advise - so I was torturing myself for nothing. At the end of the book I just wanted to throw it across the room or preferably set on fire.
If you enjoy being critiqued and talked down to go ahead and get this book. However if you're interested in getting some helpful advise and support on how to make your novel a better one, skip this book. There are dozens of other books that don't leave a bitter taste in your mouth and won't ruin your day.
I really wish Amazon had zero stars option in the reviews.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Best Book I've Ever Found on The Craft of Writing, 2008-06-24
I learned more from reading Stein on Writing than in any college class. Stein gives excellent examples. If you are serious about honing your craft, don't leave this book out of your resource library. I'm a recent graduate of Long Ridge Writers Group, but I learned more from reading this book than I did from the actual online class. Even if you take writing classes, the book is a useful resource tool to supplement any class, a must read for any serious writer.
Barbara J. Robinson
Author/Educator/Freelance Writer
http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com/
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
My agent recommended it., 2008-03-31
I am so glad my agent recommended this book. Beginning and more advanced writers will each find valuable tips. Stein's section on dialogue is great! Editing and revising no longer seem insurmountable problems. I wish I had read this when I first started writing ten years ago.
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